Metacritic, a website that aggregates reviews from the Web, gave the Xbox 360 version of the game a score of 74 out of 100, based on write-ups from 22 critics, down from last year's release, "Call of Duty: Black Ops II," which scored an 84 out of 100, based on 73 reviews. The 2011 hit "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3" clocked in with an 88 out of 100.

Russ Frushtick, a writer for Polygon, said: "Ghosts is mired in a distinct lack of ambition. Outside of the stellar Extinction mode, Ghosts follows more often than it leads, bringing with it familiar missions, modes and experiences."